“Officials: White House fires top Tillerson aide who contradicted account of secretary of state’s dismissal,” the Associated Press said in a tweet about Steve Goldstein.

The president announced he was dumping Tillerson in a tweet Tuesday morning before he headed off to California.

“Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!,” Trump wrote.

The White House had said Tillerson had been informed that he was being fired last Friday.

But Goldstein, an undersecretary of state, on Tuesday said Tillerson had not spoken to the president and was “unaware of the reason” for his ouster.

He implied Tillerson was caught flat-footed by the announcement.

“The Secretary had every intention of remaining because of the tangible progress made on critical national security issues. He established and enjoyed relationships with his counterparts,” Goldstein said on Twitter.